Increase of Norway’s import duties for some agricultural products: impact and reactions

Traditionally a strong supporter of its agricultural sector, Norway has since 1 January 2013 been applying new ad valorem duties on imports of certain types of cheese, sheep and beef meat, resulting in sharp increases to respectively 277%, 429%, and 344%. This move was preceded by a new 72% import duty on hortensia flowers in September 2012, causing turbulence in EU-Norway relations, generally close and smooth.